Discover Lübeck: Old Town, Hanseatic history and the coast

When choosing a hotel in Lübeck, it’s worth first deciding what you’d like to focus on during your stay: the medieval city layout, Hanseatic history or maritime themes. The medieval city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Lübeck’s Old Town is surrounded by water on all sides. You can stroll through protected brick architecture, medieval lanes, and historic residential passages and courtyards; most passages and courtyards are freely accessible.

Brick, city gates and Hanseatic history

The Holsten Gate combines architectural history with an exhibition in the historic gate. It was built between 1464 and 1478, inspired by Dutch examples, and served from the outset for both defense and representation. The exhibition covers the Hanseatic League, trade and seafaring, as well as the gate’s history and armaments. A city model shows Lübeck’s historic brick architecture. Exhibition details may change over time.

The construction dates of the Town Hall also offer a concrete glimpse into the city’s history: construction began in 1230 and was completed in 1308. Alongside the Holsten Gate, the Burgtor is the second surviving city gate of the former fortifications, which originally had four gates. If you want to put different chapters of the city’s history in context, these buildings—with their distinct functions and historical periods—stand side by side.

Museums and collections to suit your interests

For a history of trade, the European Hansemuseum tells 800 years of Hanseatic history, including the Hanseatic League’s rise and crisis, as well as merchants’ lives, trade and experiences. The exhibition at the Holsten Gate offers a different focus: alongside the Hanseatic League and trade, it highlights the gate, seafaring and armaments.

Those interested in sacred art will find the largest collection of North German carved altarpieces at the St. Annen Museum. The architecture and artworks of St. Mary’s document the development of sacred art from the 13th to the 21st century. At the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, scenes from the legend of Saint Elizabeth are set into the rood screen’s balustrade on 23 oak panels.

Literature and visual art also have different places to explore. The Buddenbrook House is dedicated to the Mann family and their literary work, especially Thomas Mann’s “Buddenbrooks”; the house is named after the novel’s setting. The Günter Grass House is a forum for literature and visual art. Its collection includes more than 1,300 works of visual art, as well as numerous manuscripts. The Behnhaus Drägerhaus, meanwhile, is Lübeck’s gallery of 19th-century and classical modern art.

Another way to explore Lübeck is through nature and food culture. The Museum of Nature and Environment offers insights into the natural history of the North and the animal and plant life of the Lübeck area. The exhibition “From Rivers to the Sea” presents the habitats and inhabitants of the Trave, Wakenitz and Lübeck Bay through habitat displays and interactive media stations. Life-size marzipan figures can be seen at the Niederegger Marzipan Museum.

Maritime themes in Lübeck

In Travemünde, a district of Lübeck, the four-masted barque Passat serves as a museum ship and event venue. Visitors can explore it; guided tours are offered by the association “Rettet die Passat e. V.” For 2026, opening hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the shoulder seasons and daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the peak season. Before traveling, check which season’s hours apply to your visit.

The Old Travemünde Lighthouse is 31 meters high and houses a maritime museum on the history of lighthouse technology across eight floors. Its surrounding viewing gallery offers views of the Skandinavienkai, Travemünde’s Old Town and Lübeck Bay as far as Grömitz, as well as the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The sandy beach stretches from the Nordermole to Möwenstein; there’s room for beach volleyball, soccer, sandcastles, sunbathing and beach walks.

Public transport

Stadtverkehr Lübeck GmbH operates local public transport in Lübeck and the surrounding area, as well as the Priwall ferries. As networks and timetables may change, check the latest schedules before making specific journeys.

Discover more destinations: Kücknitz, Lensahn, Travemünde, Sankt Jürgen.

Back to the main travel overview: Lübeck.